This past Monday marked the first in-person public comment session on introducing grizzlies to the North Cascades. There, I expressed my firm opposition to the establishment of a nonessential experimental population of grizzlies in our area that would effectively threaten farmland, livestock, and human lives. I was proud to join hundreds of my fellow Washingtonians in demanding we be heard on this out-of-touch proposal.
With the overwhelming majority of comments being in opposition to both the 10(j) proposal and EIS, it is clear that our folks not only care about the livelihoods of their future generations, but also understand that this is another case of federal agencies bending to the will of out-of-state activists.
While we seized upon the opportunity to comment, it appears that the unelected bureaucrats have already made up their minds. The Environmental Impact Statement and the 10(j) proposal, the two components that together enforce this decision, were concurrently released, as if the federal government was telling us what was going to happen rather than asking us for our input.
This is not how decisions are made in Central Washington.
To make matters worse, at the public comment session that took place this week, the National Fish and Wildlife Service qualified that only a “substantive comment” would be accepted—messages that simply say “do” or “don’t” (i.e., just votes) are not considered substantive. This is effectively ignoring the will of my constituents by putting guardrails on what should be a completely open process.
This is deeply concerning, to say the least.
As a farmer, I worry not only about the bears destroying my crops, but for the safety and well-being of myself, my family, my farm employees, and my community. This sentiment was overwhelmingly amplified on Monday by the attendees of the session, with many citing the cougar and wolf introductions that—to no surprise—have resulted in dead livestock and residents threatened.
It is clear these officials know grizzlies can and probably will move out of the zone in which they plan to drop them in, yet rather than letting common sense prevail, they continue to push forward with this dangerous plan.
What are the agencies’ plan for dealing with crop loss and livestock depredation that is inevitable from the introduction of these predators? What is the timeline for issuing lethal permits? And how much will citizens have to lose before they can defend themselves from this predator in their backyard?
The question in front of us today and the one made so abundantly clear at the session is not how we manage these bears once they’re here, it’s whether or not to introduce grizzly bears to our region at all. The response from our community proves the answer is an unequivocal “No!”
The public comment period on the Draft EIS runs from September 28 - November 13, 2023. You can find more information on how to participate in public comment meetings or leave a public comment here.
